A new report from WBEZ shows Illinois GOP megadonor Ken Griffin expanded his company’s holdings in gun manufacturers while at the same time Griffin’s handpicked Richard Irvin tries to use crime as a political talking point. Griffin’s companies Citadel and Citadel Securities increased their holdings in gun and ammunition manufacturers by 62% during the first quarter of 2022. In total, Griffin’s holdings in these companies totaled $139 million, up from $86 million in the fourth quarter of 2021.
The news comes after a February report that guns manufactured by Citadel-linked companies were responsible for one in four recovered firearms from Chicago homicides in the past five years. Instead of limiting his role in Illinois’ gun violence problem, Griffin has apparently doubled down on making money off violence in our state.
The question now: will Richard Irvin answer for his patron’s investments in gun manufacturers and their role in gun violence in Illinois? From the duck-and-dodge performance Irvin put on at his disastrous press conference last week, we’d guess probably not. Surely if we let him finish, he’ll answer questions—right?
Read the WBEZ report HERE.
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